"MEASURES, NOT MEN "

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1183, 26 September 1885, Page 2

"MEASURES, NOT MEN "

The best thing that can be said of the session of 1885 is that it is at last over, and the miserable record closed 1 of Ministerial ignominy and party intrigues. Never before in the history of parliamentary government, in our knowledge, has there been an instance of a Government defeated on every point of their policy continuing to hold office, haviag existed on sufferance, and through the contemptous indifference of those who really guided the business of the country. We are inclined to believe that under the strange combination of circumstances which have rendered such things possible, the very best has been done which such circumstances permitted, and that the average good sense of the

House of Representatives has prevented mischief, if it has nob accomplished what might be regarded as positively beneficial. The Stout- Vogel Coalition remain in place, it is true, but deprived of all substantial power, and sunk so low in public opinion that their influence must be confined within very material limits. We certainly never thonght that Mr Stout would have been content with such a position, although aware that, to some of his colleagues, the rich fumes from the flesh pots of the Treasury are the very breath of life. Thp. results o£ the session, so for as fche country is practically concerned, may be briefly summarised. The property- fcax has been raised from three-eighths to seven-eighths of a penny in the £ ; the stamp duties in succession have been materially increased ; and 6d per gallon has been added to the import duty on wines and spirits. In the aggregate, the increase in taxation

is considerable, but this falls more especially on the propertied classes ; aud so far is in the direction of adjusting their proper proportion of contribution to the revenue. The proposals of the Treasurer, as set forth in the Financial Statement, included the revision of the customs tariff, so as to realise about £100,000 more annually from that source, by what would have been neither more nor less than an indirect levy on the pockets of the people. lb was further endeavored to seize the occasion so as to introduce the protective element by special imposts upon articles which can be produced and manufactured in the Colony. The House, however, declined to commit itself to a fiscal policy so economically vicious, and the new tariff was thrown back on the hands of its ingenious designer. The whole scheme of finance of Sir Julius, in truth, fell to the ground, as ie were, in shattered fragments — a complete case of fiasco. The House refused even to entertain the idea of further borrowing until they could see their way to material retrenchment of the ordinary expenditure, and they took the Public Works Estimates into their own hands and cut them down, so that all necessity for the immediate authorization of a new loan was avoided. The much - vaunted scheme of local finance and local government came to much the same end. "The Local Bodies' Finance and Powers Bill " has dwindled down to little else than the reviving the old system of subsidies for a strictly limited period, leaving the question of " assured finance " very much where it was. In regard to the goldfields, the professions, pledges, and promises of the Government have dissipated into thin air. Mr Larnach produced a romantic history of his journeyings in unknown regions of the interior, and facetiously termed it a " Mines Statement." Several Parliamentary papers were also published, illustrative of the marvellous effects of Professor Black's lectures on the minds of the unsophisticated diggers. Bills were, moreover, introduced for the relief of the mining industry j but there was such an ab* sence of sincerity or earnestness in pro moting these that naturally enough they came to grief. The Native administration of Mr Ballance is so thoroughly distrusted, and his policy regarded with so much suspicion, that beyond their first introduction be was unable to carry any of the measures which he had devised. The only practical piece of legislation effected by members has been the Land Bill, in great degree a consolidating measure, the original portions of which are mostly taken from the Bill brought in by Mr Rolleston in 1883. It must be conceded, however, that Minister,?, escaping by the skin of their teeth without a shred of policy about them,, have been as successful after all as they wished to be. Their main object was to stick to the loaves and fishes, and this they have contrived to do.

We are not, as a general rale, in favor of the somewhat indiscriminate testimonializing which is common now-a-days, when a man can hardly leave his employment in a store without some quasi public . tribute to his manifold good qualities being set on foot. The movement now originated in favor of affording substantial recognition of the

services to this constituency of our member, Mr J. C. Brown,- commends itself, nowever, on most indefeasible grounds, and ie is really hardly necessary in Tuapeka to advance one word in advocacy." It was sad tp,th(» great Roajan Emperor, Augustus, who found Rome a city of brick and would leave it of marble — " If you seek a monument look around you ;" and the same words might with truth be addressed to Mr J. C. Brown, who must see with pride the district as it is, which,- not so long ago, was a wilderness, with a few scattered digging townships. The meeting on , Monday evening was thoroughly representative, and it was gratifying to note that men of all shades of political opinion were present, eager to do honor where honor is so justly due, and record theiu appreciation of the unremitting exertions of our sole and only representative for a period extending over two decades. It may be quite true that Tuapeka might have had a member, or a series of members if it comes to that, who would have, as Mr Buchanan well expressed it, talked more in the House and taken a more active part in the debates ; but we quite agree with him that " we might get a hundred representatives, yet it was questionable if any half dozen of them could do as much as Mr J. C. Brown single-handed." There are one or two points which we would desire to put before the electors and the Tuapeka people generally. During a very lengthy political career, Mr Brown has done much for this district — this will be univeroally adtnitted — and nothing for himself ; he has, in very truth, been devoted to the services of his constituents. Those who know what Parliamentary life is must realise that Mr Brown must, all these years, have manifold chances of, to use a very apposite expression, feathering his own nest, if he had chosen, on many and various occasions, to take the tide at the flood ; but he has been all through resolutely consistent in his politics, and never obtruded his undoubted claims to official consideration. We have no hesitation, indeed, in saying that he has been by the party he has so consistently supported in the House most ungenerously and ungratGfiilJy treated ; and it is undoubtedly to his credit that he has still been ready with his vote and influence in favor of those by whom he has been, to our mind, most scurvily used. Many men would have very practically resented the ignoring of faithful adherence, extending over four or five successive Parliaments. Mr Brown has not done so, but has conscientiously pursued the even tenor of his ways, regardless of personal advantages, satisfied in his own mind that he has been able to advance the interests of those who have entrusted to him their suffrages. It has especially to be recollected that he has never made any profit out of his politics, and, in fact, has never sought to do so, although politics have been the business of his life. In a case of this kind, in recognition of such material and important services, there should be no doing things by halves ; and we trust that the energetic measures being taken by the central and local Committees will be ably furthered by every elector throughout the length and breadth of the district, and that the testimonial may be as substantial as the works Mr Brown has done for us.